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Australias captain Steven Smith is staking plenty on his ability to get the best out of the New South Wales left-hand batsman Nic Maddinson, as a potential match-winner among the raft of changes made to the team for the day-night Test at Adelaide Oval.No name among the five to be included for Thursday - the others are Matt Renshaw, Pete Handscomb, Matthew Wade and Jackson Bird - stands out quite like that of Maddinson as an indicator that this is now very much Smiths team.On the face of it, his selection at No. 6 runs contrary to the teams desperate need for batsmen capable of playing a long innings and toughing it out during the difficult periods that have so wrecked Smiths chances of emerging as the winning captain across the past five Tests.However Smith believes he has seen welcome signs of evolution in Maddinsons methods over the past 12 months, backing a state team-mate he has known for many years to step up to the plate. In this there are distinct shades of Ricky Pontings faith in another destructive middle order performer - Andrew Symonds.I think on his day he can tear any attack apart, Smith said of Maddinson. I think the selectors have given him an opportunity to come in and play at No. 6, and I guess sum up the conditions and play with a bit of freedom at the same time.I think he has developed his defence over the last couple of years, from what I have seen he has been playing the ball a lot later and a lot more under his eyes, which is a very good start. From there he has certainly got the shots to expand his game, so hes going to continue to work hard and hopefully he can flourish in this system.The system Smith spoke of has been under serious strain over the past week, as evidenced by the resignation of the selection chairman Rod Marsh and the five changes that have been made to the Test team. Smith said he sensed a change in mood simply through the high turnover of players from Hobart to Adelaide.Weve obviously made a lot of changes and some young guys have come into the squad, Smith said. I think its obviously this series has been disappointing the way it has gone for us. But Im actually really excited now about the young guys coming into the group and what they bring.Ive almost felt a little shift over the last couple of days in attitude and energy from what the new guys have brought in. Im happy with the team that weve got, and Im excited about all these young guys coming into the group and what they can bring to the team.Smith has acknowledged that the players under his command must show a better ability to identify key moments in matches, particularly with the bat. I think the focus is more around attitude and being able to be more resilient and adaptable to whatever conditions that are out there and identifying periods of the game that are difficult and getting through those periods, he said.I think recently we have struggled to identify the periods that are difficult and we have talked about them afterwards where there were moments where we could have done things better. Its about trying to stay in the moment and identify those periods and get through those periods and when you do that things get easier.Similarly, Australias players are now hoping that the difficult period experienced over the past week will be identified by the selectors and other senior Cricket Australia figures as a time to aim for continuity. Its a difficult one, Smith said. You want guys to come in and perform and keep putting in those performances and be consistent. I think its a great opportunity to try and get a little bit of continuity with our team and try to make guys feel as comfortable as they can.I know when you feel comfortable and relaxed thats the way you play your best cricket. Its trying to get that feeling among the group, and make our mindsets right. I think its a great opportunity for me to stamp my authority on this team as the leader. I have talked a lot to the guys over the last couple of days about growth and trying to grow and learn as a team.Growth doesnt happen overnight, so it could take some time, but I am confident that with the guys we have here that we can start turning our results around straightaway and start playing the way we want to play. Orbelin Pineda Mexico Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Alfredo Talavera Jersey . 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Theyre the two countries that almost always rise to the occasion in major tournaments.Germany vs. Italy: Its a game fit for a final.Except one of them wont even get past the quarterfinal stage at Euro 2016.The continental heavyweights -- owners of eight World Cups and four European Championships between them -- collide in Bordeaux on Saturday in a match that stands out for many reasons.Firstly, theres the skewed history of their meetings in major tournaments. Germany and Italy have played each other eight times at the highest level and, bizarrely, the Germans havent recorded a single victory.We still have a score to settle with the Italians, Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke said.Then theres the nations current standing in soccer. Germany came into Euro 2016 as the world champion and, to many people, the tournament favorite. Italy arrived with what many back home were saying was the worst team in years.The Germans have largely lived up to their billing, conceding no goals in four matches and hitting their stride with a 3-0 win over Slovakia in the round of 16. The Italians have silenced the critics with arguably the best two displays of any team so far, 2-0 wins over highly fancied rivals Belgium (in the group stage) and then Spain (in the round of 16).Im not singing with the choir that wrote us off (after a 0-0) against Poland and is now branding us absolute favorites after the win over Slovakia, Germany coach Joachim Loew.Theyre not the Italians that we normally know, Loew added. Theyre not only focused on defense but they play very, very well going forward. So ... I believe well have a very interesting, highly charged game on Saturday.While Italy is battle-hardened after a tougher-than-average group stage and tthen a match against defending champion Spain, theres a sense that Euro 2016 really starts here for Germany.ddddddddddddLoews side strolled through its group and Slovakia didnt prove to be a real test.The Italians certainly will be.Loew had his biggest disappointment as Germany coach when his team lost 2-1 to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinals. He was assistant manager to Juergen Klinsmann when Italy beat Germany in extra time in the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup that Germany hosted.Germanys barren run against the Azzurri in major tournaments started with a 0-0 draw at the 1962 World Cup.You dont prepare a game saying we won the one before, well win the next one, Italy midfielder Alessandro Florenzi said. We went to work immediately after Spain, we watched the video and tried to find weaknesses in a team that doesnt have many.The facts speak for themselves, theyre world champions, theyve won so many matches, thats what gives them confidence.Italys chances of continuing its impressive streak in this fixture are being undermined by a midfield crisis. Already without Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Riccardo Montolivo because of pre-tournament injuries, Italy coach Antonio Conte is without the suspended Thiago Motta and Antonio Candreva (groin), while Daniele De Rossi (thigh) is a doubt.As for Germany, left back Jonas Hector has had a cold this week but is expected to be OK for Saturday.This could be Contes last game in charge of Italy before he takes over as manager of Chelsea in the English Premier League. He has given tactical masterclasses against Belgium and Spain, and another might be needed against a Germany side that has a point to prove.We have no Italy-trauma, Loew saidThe world is just about to find out. ' ' '